Regrets are the worst kind of pain....

Last Sunday our pastor emeritus preached and started his sermon by talking about the 4th of July. He praised our country and the men and women who have fought for it over the years. Then he stopped for a moment and looked over the audience. His voice broke as he announced as loudly as possible. "This country is still a Christian Nation - I don't care what the president says."

As he fought back the tears he asked us all to stand and sing God Bless America. He said the words would be displayed on the screen. I leaned over to my friend Viki and said, "Why would we need the words? In my day everyone knew the words and all the verses."

I know that my pastor was feeling the pain of regret. I don't know if he was one of those ministers that asked us to accept Obama right after he was elected. But I do know that some of those pastors are reeling from the things that Obama has done to our country and our Christian Faith. I feel sorry for them and don't want to make light of their pain.

Yet....I'm thankful that at least I was decisive and stood on the side of "faith". Regrets, especially on the magnitude floating around, are the worst kind of pain.

When I look at what this man has done in only six short months, I am positive that he was NOT part of God's divine will. I am positive that he is only in office because so many Christians were blinded by their own greed or sense of purpose that they didn't pay attention to where Obama's allegiance really was.
God does allow us to make our own decisions and when we mess up he also allows us to suffer the consequences.

Let's take a look at what Obama has done for Christians.

1. He is forcing Christians to pay for abortions not only in this country but all around the globe. You may not get a receipt for that, but when your tax money supports that initiative, you are paying for the abortion.

2. He opts out of the prayer breakfast, hasn't attended church anywhere since he's been in office and yet declares that gay pride will be celebrated at the White House.

3. He wants me to believe that he is a Christian when we have never seen him pray, know that he sat under a speaker for 20 years at a church (sorry can't call him a real pastor) that spews hatred for America and he quotes the Quran perfectly and says that Muslim prayers are among the most beautiful.

4. He voices strong opposition to the killing of a doctor who brutally murdered over 60,000 babies just minutes before they were born - yet brushes off the murder of a brave soldier at a marine recruiting office.

5. He wants the gay lifestyle to be promoted in elementary schools.

6. Just yesterday he invited the Gay community to the White House so he could praise their efforts and promised that he was in the fight with them. According to One News Source, He stated that Congress should repeal what Obama referred to as "the so-called Defense of Marriage Act" -- and that his administration is working to pass a hate crimes bill and to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military.

He even went so far as to say..."Many Americans still disapprove of homosexuality. There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes."

I am offended when he calls my faith - worn arguments and old attitudes.

7. He chooses to stand for the queen of England, brushed off the Israeli President but he bows to the King of Saudi Arabia.

8. He says he must stay out of Iran's fight for freedom but he immediately comes out against a coup in Honduras stating that it's illegal.

9. He wants to socialized health care even when we can't afford it - but that's okay, he plans to partially pay for it by limiting the amount of deductions you can take for charitable contributions. - Pastors can take a big gulp on that one.

10. He is hugely in favor of a Hate Crimes bill that is specifically slanted toward pastors and Christian stations.

11. He has appointed a supreme court nominee that promises that your case will NOT be judged on it's merit but rather on whether it will be good "socially" for the country. She plans to take your race, color and religion into account before she even looks at the law. She blatantly thumbs her nose at the Constitution thinking that she is a wiser voice than the intellectuals that started this country.

12. WATCH out for the 2010 census. I don't plan to give them anything but my name, address and how many are in my household. Why? Have you seen the questions? They want to know what time you leave for work, if you come home during the day and when you return at night. If...some of the horror stories materialize and the government wants to round you up for some reason, they will have everything they need to know about you in order to rand sack your house or when to find you at home.

Hum..... I'm sick to death of bigger government. And Mr. Obama is still NOT my president.

I hope you are praying for our nation. Our Christian Nation. We are losing our freedoms and losing them at an alarming fast pace. I hope you are finally seeing that this man is evil and is doing his best to strip this country of its Christian morals, values and foundations. We will never be free if we "coddle" this type of behavior with meek and mild "I'm going to love you anyway" Christianity. We need to be as the Bible instructed, "wise as serpents yet gentle as doves." Christian and American freedoms are closely related and we need to understand that we MUST fight for those freedoms.

What can you do? Listen to the negative as well as the positive. I don't watch the big three since they are in Obama's pocket. I watch Fox Cable News. Write your congressman and Senators and tell them if they continue to vote for unchristian bills that you will work to vote them out of office. Let them know your concerns.

In four days we will celebrate the Independence of this country. I hope you are inspired to join the contemporary movement to return this country to its Christian foundations.

God help us!

God loves you,

Debbie

God Bless America

You are not alone if you love this country. You are not alone if you have a strong family. You are not alone if you raise great children.




God Bless America

God loves you,

Debbie

Walk with me devotions - Adina

Adina lay back in the cool green grass that surrounded the small stream. She came here often to get away from the constant noise of the market place in Nazareth. Most of the time she could take her parent’s constant yelling to sell the few bowls they made, but it was unbearable during the noon rush.

When she first met Haviva she thought it was the greatest friendship ever. They laughed and played and ran in and out of the merchants. But now, it was painful. Haviva was the ten-year-old daughter of a royal family. Haviva was kind to Adina and seemed to truly love their time together. Haviva just didn’t realize the consequences that made Adina’s life miserable.

Haviva’s parents would give her milk to drink and often ask her to stop and taste some wonderful treats. Adina had to keep her place and was never offered any of the luscious food reserved for the wealthy. Adina’s stomach would growl and the hot sand burned her bony bare feet. She missed her friend but didn’t want to be jealous of Haviva. It was better to spend the noon hour here by the stream. She closed her eyes and let the breeze and the lapping of the water try to drown out the pains of her empty stomach.

“I like spending the day by water, don’t you?”

Adina jumped to her feet. She started to run away but was calmed by the young man’s smile.

“I come here often but have never seen you before. Is this your first time?”

Adina shook her head no and brushed dried grass off her torn dress.

“I thought it would be nice to have a bite to eat. Did you bring your lunch?”

“No!” She couldn’t stand to watch someone else eat. She stomped her feet to walk away.

“Please stay and share mine with me.”

Adina stopped. Did he ask me to eat with him? “Um…what did you say?”

The kind man shaded his eyes as he looked up at Adina. “Would you like to have some lunch with me?”

Adina crossed her arms and patted her foot. “I don’t see any food.”

He rose to his feet and pointed to a nearby clearing by an open cave. “It’s over there.”

Adina was careful not to get to close to the man in case she needed to run away. They pushed their way through tall brush and into the clearing. Adina couldn’t believe her eyes. A large crimson cloth held a banquet of food. Her mouth watered and her stomach growled. The man extended his hand. “Come, let’s eat.”

Adina tried to eat slowly but the food was so good and the water from the wineskin so cool that it was hard to even take time to breathe. The man ate a little but mostly he talked. He talked about how much God loved Adina.

Adina gulped a mouthful of meat, “If he loves me so much why am I always hungry?”

The man sat up and stroked her mangled hair. “He sees your pain and it breaks his heart.”

Adina stopped and stared at his eyes. They seemed to pierce through her. A tear was forming in the corner of his eye. She reached to touch his face. She could feel the deepness of his love for her.

“When you need my father, call on him. He will always be there for you.” He stood and took her in his arms. He hugged her and whispered in her ear, “I love you.” He returned her to the blanket and walked away.

“What about your stuff?” she yelled.

“It’s yours,” he called back as he continued to walk down the dusty road.

Adina couldn't eat anymore. She thought about the gentle man that loved her and the wonderful gift she had been given. She lay back on the blanket and stared at a wispy cloud. Are you up there? Is there really a God like momma says? Do you really love me? She reached for the wineskin to pour some water in her mouth. Instead of water, coins hit her cheeks.

She jumped to her feet. It was money, lots of money. The man had left her enough food for her entire family and more money than she had ever seen. She danced in praise to the gentle man and his God that loved her so. “God loves me!” she shouted. “God loves me.”

"Let not your heart be trouble; ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1

God loves you,

Debbie

Darlene's Daily

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

You don't just luck into things...You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities. - Barbara Bush

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

After my husband asked me to help him shed some unwanted pounds, I stopped serving fattening TV snacks and substituted crisp celery.

While he was unenthusiastically munching on a stalk one night, a commercial caught his attention. As he watched longingly, a woman spread gooey chocolate frosting over a freshly baked cake.

When it was over, my husband turned to me. "Did you ever notice," he asked, "that they never advertise celery on TV?"

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for. --Dag Hammarskjold

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

Two men went fishing. One man was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back.

The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste good fish. "Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" he asked.The inexperienced fisherman replied, "I only have a small frying pan."

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

A lasting gift to a child is the gift of a parent's listening ear -- and heart.

'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*'*~*

"An abstract noun," the teacher said, "is something you can think of, but you can't touch it. Can you give me an example of one?"

"Sure," a teenage boy replied. "My father's new car."


Have a great Friday!

~D~

Chonda Pierce and Depression

I found a wonderful video of Chonda Pierce at CBN.com I tried to embed the video so you could watch it here. For some reason it isn't working.

I've followed Chonda for many years. She is a delightful comedian and a wonderful person. I've read her books and listened to her songs and dvd's.

Chonda's interview is open, free and enlightening. I hope you will take the time to click over and enjoy hearing her talk about her problems with depression and how God helped her through it.

You can find this on CBN.com http://www.cbn.com/media/index.aspx?s=/vod/CS27HDv3

God loves you,

Debbie

Lies, Lies and watch the eyes!

Ten years ago I spent my mornings watching ABC's Good Morning America. I sipped on my coffee, readied the house for my in home daycare and praised Charlie Gibson when he said something religious.

Slowly however, I watched as the content became more liberal and at times just silly. Even though I counted on Charlie to get me through the devastation of the twin towers, it didn't take long for me to see the liberal slant and at times just down right lies.

Six years ago I found Cable Fox News and I was thrilled at the fair and balanced way they handled the news. They try to see both sides and yet stick very close to the common person, our Christian heritage and the freedoms we all hold dear. I trust them. For the last six years I refuse to watch the big three stations at all. (No, I don't even watch American Idol)

However, tonight I decided to see if Charlie Gibson, ABC news and Mr. Obama might "do the right thing" on their health care special. For one hour I shook my head in disbelief. I saw so many "used car" sleazy cons that I was just sick.

They started the program talking about how fair and balanced they were and that they were going to represent all sides. They said there were Republicans and Dems in the room and that they represented all views. Yet, when they asked the question...."Who in the room believes the health care system should be left alone?" No one raised their hands. It was the first clue to the "orchestration" of how this was presented.

First of all there are thousands if not millions of people that believe the health care system should be left alone. Don't tell me they couldn't find even one or two people that felt that way. What is more believable is that they could find them - the president refused inclusion because they would have given his agenda a negative twinge.

If you paid attention to Mr. Obama's eyes, he shifted them back and forth and always looked down just before he said, "Well, now...we of course don't want to deny anyone care or treatment, but we have to be logical." I hope you know that's code for "Of course we are going to deny treatment." Later in the show he even set the stage for his attack on the sick and injured. "Denying treatment is already going on. Providers will often deny treatment simply by not covering some treatments or by raising deductibles or when you run out of money." He stopped there and then let Charlie ask another question. Of course his little con game is to set you up - just like he has orchestrated Wall street - and he will sucker you into government controlled unattainable health care.

The most telling however was his first illustration. He was talking about his grandmother and the fact that she had cancer and broke her hip. "We had to make the decision, do we take care of her hip when she was frail and would not recover from the cancer." I kept waiting for him to say what they decided. He didn't.

I've heard that Mr. Obama believes that the elderly should be denied care based on whether or not they could be productive afterward. In other words, if you are 70 and need an cornea transplant - you would not receive it because you wouldn't be able to make the same use of it as a 30 year old would. Tonight he convinced me that he believes in that type of governmental intervention.

It was also evident that he believes strongly that too much is done to try to solve the mystery when a patient can't easily be diagnosed. He stated over and over that "too many treatments and tests are unnecessary." Unnecessary to who? If you have a disease that is killing you but no one can determine why....tests can rack up quickly. Does Mr. Obama want you to just go home and die? It's just as important to pay attention to what he doesn't say as well as what he does.

This president is a fake. He is a great con man that is capable of spinning lies into nice little webs that will trap you. Be very careful.

If I'm working with someone that lies and gives me half truths 60% of the time, I am going to refuse to believe them even for the 30% truth that might be true. It's not smart to believe that kind of person because how can you know which 30% is really true?

The last web of lies was when he tried to talk about how he's going to pay for all this. Do you realize that he wants you to believe that enough Americans will magically get well on this new system and that's how he will pay for it? That's what he kept saying over and over. "We will save billions on treatment because we will be in the business of prevention." What about the people that are sick now? What about those that have already passed the window of prevention? What about people that have problems that are genetic and can't be prevented?

AND....how is it going to help the government when it's my personal insurance that will be saving money on my prevention efforts----unless you already have in mind that the only option will be one government health care? That's the only way the "government" can save money one me. Does that mean you are lying when you say that I will be able to keep my personal insurance?

I could point out other inconsistencies and lies, but enough. I encourage you to write your congressman and let him know that you didn't believe Mr. Obama's lies. I encourage you to think long and hard about the quality of life you will have when governmental health care decides not to pay for your treatment unless you lose 20 pounds and stop eating cake. I encourage you to imagine your feelings and response when your husband is in the hospital with some mysterious problem and the government won't let the hospital do a cat scan because he's almost 80.

Don't let this happen. Take a stand now.

God loves you,

Debbie

Socialism is a "lazy" way of life

I just don't get it. I don't often "rant" but today I'm angry. I keep wondering when people will wake up and smell the coffee! I can't believe that the United States actually has a backing for a socialistic way of life. Socialism will destroy America and the American way of life - and I don't care who is hurt by that statement. Sorry - the American way is to tell the "TRUTH" and not cover it up with a lie about change.

Socialism depends on the masses being stupid. At the core of socialism is a working mass that supports the upper class but doesn't have a chance of breaking into the upper class. The masses work and give everything to the pot to support all the lazy idiots that either refuse to work or simply have learned how to play the system and get out of work. Yes, they are idiots. Anyone who refuses to take responsibility for their own way of life and their own circumstances is nothing more than a spoiled childish brat idiot! I'm not sorry about that statement. I am sorry that so many people are comfortable with failure and mediocrity. I love excellence and I crave seeing it in others.

The devastating crimes behind the socialist way of life is rarely talked about. Take a look at our cities and the strides we have made in this country. Look at the way we care for our homes and the way individuals work night and day to reach the American dream. Now shift overseas to socialist countries and take a trip off the beaten path. When you leave the "photo op" destinations and take a look at the common man you will find hopelessness, despair, and a total lack of pride. If the government owns everything and tells you what you can and can't do with your life - what's the point of trying? What's the point of working hard? Why would you even try to make your life better?

In a socialist state the individual is put down. Efforts for excellence isn't rewarded but rather is ignored. Only the elite have real lives. Since they are so out of touch with the common man they become cruel, unfeeling and willing to crack down on anything that would rob them of their status. It's a horrible LIE that they take care of individuals - Socialism is in the business to strip individuals of everything they have and every desire for excellence.

America was founded on the desire to leave the class rule and have freedom to grow, think, create, worship and dream. Why would anyone want to trade that for chains and a government that controls everything?

Laziness! If you don't want to get off your behind and find a job - get the government to pay for you and your 5 children.

If you don't want to work harder, get an education and save for medical care - get the government to pay for it.

If you don't want to strive for a better life, sacrifice for what you want, pay your own way ----if you are jealous of those that do work hard ---then get the government involved.

Our lives will be controlled, taxed and void of most of our freedoms. Pride in yourself, your homes and your work will be non-existent. Dreams will be a thing of the past - an unreachable mist, a tortured thought. But go ahead....promote the masses and kill the individual. That's what lazy people do.

Lazy people are sneaky. They don't approach you with a frontal attack. They come from behind. "We don't want to hurt anyone. We are concerned about the poor people. We just want to help and make everyone happy." What a lie! No one can be happy when only a few succeed.

Think back on slavery. If you look past the obvious moral and Christian objections - why didn't it work? It's similar to socialism. One big guy provides your home and everything you need and all you have to do is do whatever he asked. It didn't work because it destroyed individual hopes and dreams. It destroyed the individual in favor of the mass of work. Slaves didn't care about the work - they just didn't want to receive a beating. And...the only person succeeding was the owners.

Last week in New York the school system decided to abandon the recognition of Valedictorians. The board felt that it made other students feel bad and was unnecessary competition for the students. They will continue to recognize the achievements of sports figures and artistic endeavors but not the intelligent, hard working kids.

What a bunch of losers! Some idiot of a parent probably complained because her dumb and dumber child can't read much less do any homework so her jealousy and lazy way of thinking is to punish the hardworking senior that has excelled in academics. This is lunacy! Be honest America and just tell these parents of losers to try "parenting" their own lazy child instead of bullying the succeeding child.

I know that my readers are not idiots and I know that all of you are concerned and hard working. You must be one more thing however.....you must be vocal as well. We are in a fight for the traditions and morals that made this country great. Don't let people intimidate you. Speak up, write your representative, put your senator on speed dial, write a weekly letter to a prominent politician and insist that we remain a strong, intelligent and hard working country. If you opt for change on our American freedoms, ideals and dreams - you deserve what you get.

God loves you,

Debbie

Jim Caviezel

In the "Hollywood" scene it's often hard to find an example of a great father. In preparation for Father's Day I found this article on the website for Catholic Digest. It's an interview with Jim Caviezel who played the part of Jesus in the blockbuster The Passion.

I was doing research for other items but when I found this article I couldn't stop reading. I am very impressed with Jim and I hope you will take the time to read what he has to say.

http://www.catholicdigest.com/article/qa-jim-caviezel

I have already wished my Dad a Happy Father's Day. I hope you will do the same for your Dad.

God loves you,

Debbie

True Inspiration

Do you wonder if you can survive storms that loom ahead of you? I often do. I hope I'm strong enough - but does anyone really know until the storm consumes you?

Last week I was watching Beck on the Fox News Cable station as Glenn Beck interviewed Blake Haxton of Columbus, Ohio. He's a high school senior that was being pursued for the Harvard Rowing Team. They showed pictures of what he looked liked in January before he contracted a terrible disease. Within a matter of weeks he was at death's door and had lost both his legs.

As Beck interviewed his father, tears ran down my cheeks. This young man who had lost most of his dreams was one of the most positive people I've listened to. He attributes his miraculous recovery to his family, friends and most of all God and his praying loved ones. He talked about his future with hope and exciting anticipation.

It's not the Beck interview, but if you want to be really inspired, I encourage you to check out the following video.

http://columbusdispatch.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/columbusdispatch-dispatch-pub01-live/current/launch.html?playerId=dispatchlargecustom&referralPlaylistId=b358c57b2f187e368c4076ecb8d49efdf5f76212&referralParentPlaylistId=f3fd57b64c77fe7c0dc6ec6cb4cf5d66417a3457&referralObject=5895172&referrer=copylink

For more information about his condition and to see a before picture check out the following article ...http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/11/BLAKE.ART_ART_06-11-09_A1_LNE53RH.html?sid=101


God loves you,

Debbie

Darlene's Daily

*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'
Nobody trips over a mountain. It is the small pebble that
causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and
you will find you have crossed the mountain!
`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'


At the beginning of my junior year of High School in Arkansas, our homeroom teacher had us fill out a form stating our future goals. Out of curiosity, I leaned over to see what my blonde friend
put down for her aspirations. Where it read "Vocational Plans," she had written, "Florida."

`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'


Two blonde robbers were robbing a hotel. The first one said, "I hear sirens, jump!" The second one said, "But we're on the 13th floor!" The first one screamed back, "This is no time to be superstitious."

`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'
Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think. - Benjamin Disraeli
*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'`*:*'

Brenda's 6 year old was explaining to the other kids what "extinct" meant:
"Well," she said in all seriousness, "it means that the dinosaurs are all dead and have been dead so long they don't stink anymore, that's why they call them exstinkt."

Have a great Saturday!
~Darlene

Social Psychology

We are Americans. We can survive anything. Yet, when we are trying to map out a course for international affairs and homeland security, I think it's important that we pay attention to history, social psychology and the probability of success. It's not always about human rights and what helps a politician get re-elected. Sometimes it's about understanding the nature of a society, their customs and how they will probably react.

Si Frumkin was born in Lithuania and survived a concentration camp, the only member of his family that did. He now lives in Valley Village, CA. He is a contributing columnist to the Jewish Observer, Los Angeles, where the following article appeared.


SCHADENFREUDE
An Interesting German Word
by Si Franklin

I am not a great fan of German achievement. I believe that a Lexus or a Cadillac is better than a BMW or Mercedes. But I do acknowledge that Germans have a way with words. They created words that other languages simply do not have. Schadenfreude is such a word. In case you are not familiar with it, it takes 7 English words to define it: "malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others".

The dictionary also explains it with a quote from the New York Times about historian Peter Gay -- who felt Schadenfreude as a Jewish child in Nazi-era Berlin, watching the Germans lose coveted gold medals in the 1936 Olympics; he said that it "can be one of the great joys of life."

All this is a prelude to inform you that I felt - and greatly enjoyed - Schadenfreude recently. A friend had recently come back from a trip to Russia. He told us that he saw beautiful flowers at an expensive flower shop in Moscow and asked where these out-of-season flowers had come from.

" Holland," he was told. "Most of our flowers come from Holland but the Dutch buy a lot of them from Israel and resell them throughout Europe. We are lucky to get them. They are so beautiful."

Another friend spent a week in the French countryside where he enjoyed a wonderful tasty fruit, apparently some kind of a cross between a peach and a plum. He asked what it was and was told that it was imported from Israel, the only place where it was cultivated.

I am sure that at least some of the flowers, fruit and vegetables that cater to European sophisticates came from the more than 3000 Gaza greenhouses. They were all built on barren empty land by the Jews who - until a few years ago - employed over 12,000 Palestinians there.
Since the start of the last Intifada and several terror attacks by the more demented employees, the number of Arabs working the greenhouses was drastically reduced, and they were replaced by Thais, Africans and Filipinos.

During the months of preparation for the Israeli withdrawal there were many questions on what should be done with the greenhouses. They were state-of-art agricultural marvels with their own sophisticated temperature and humidity control systems, they turned out millions of dollars worth of produce yearly and they were a source of employment for thousands of people in an area where close to 40% were unemployed. Should these marvelous structures be destroyed? Moved? Abandoned?

And then a wonderful and heartwarming solution was found. A small group of wealthy American Jews decided to buy the greenhouses from Israel and donate them to the Palestinian Authority. One of the donors was former World Bank president James Wolfensohn who put up $500,000 of his own money. All in all, $14 million was collected, the deal was done and appreciative Palestinian spokesmen announced that the greenhouses would become the cornerstone of the future Palestinian economy.

So where is the Schadenfreude, you say? Happy ending for all, right? Palestinians get the greenhouses, Israelis get $14 million and the small group of admirable Jews in America get the warm feeling of having made the world a more tolerant and loving place where Arabs appreciate Jewish kindness and are less eager to murder Jews, right? Well, no, not really.

Have you heard the old story about a scorpion that asked a fox to carry him across a river? The fox refused: "You are a scorpion and you might sting me," he said. The scorpion scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Why would I sting you? We would both drown if I do," he said. The fox thought this made sense and told him to climb on his back. Halfway across the river the scorpion stung the fox. "Why? Why did you do this? We'll both drown," cried the drowning fox. " I know, my friend, but this is the Middle East," said the scorpion before dying.

Just an hour or so after the Jews left Gaza thousands of Palestinians swarmed into the empty settlements. The Palestinian police watched the mob demolish the abandoned synagogues and set them on fire. They also watched with interest as part of the crowd turned on the greenhouses --breaking windows, taking plates of glass, wiring, computer and electronic parts and irrigation pipes and timers. It didn't take long -- after a few hours or so the greenhouses that it had taken years to build were just so much junk.

And so I have Schadenfreude. The Palestinians will not export flowers to Holland or fruit to France. The greenhouses will not be rebuilt. The Palestinian economy, such as it is, will continue to be mired in corruption, hatred and violence. They will suffer -- Schadenfreude -- but still, they'll never admit that it was their own fault.

And I have Schadenfreude towards the naive rich Jews who thought that the Arab reaction to their gift would be based on logic and not on inbred hatred. You silly people, didn't you learn yet that this is the Middle East where scorpions sting even if this means their own destruction? You lost $14 million and, you know, I am glad you did. I only hope that Israel cashed the $14 million check before it was too late.
****

I've decided not to make any comment. I'm too sad. You decide. Just remember that by the age of 12 a human has developed his temperament toward the world and by age 16 it is set in stone. Only God can change his view of this world. And sometimes even when God saves a soul the attitudes are still in place. As the Bible instructs we must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Do you know what you call a Jerk that's been saved by the grace of God? Most of the time....he's a saved Jerk.

God loves you,

Debbie

Creativity

The following is an editorial from my son's musical newsletter. We all need to be more creative and we need to teach our children to be creative. I hope this inspires you in the same way it did me.


Creative Mist

Today is a Wednesday. As I sit in my office, listening to the gentle rain tap on my window, I find myself in a sort of misty haze. I'm not sure where this unseen pressure comes from, but its something that's so comfortable and yet it makes my feet feel as though they're coated with some sort of industrial strength glue.

Inside my heart I want the sky to be blue, birds to be singing, and I want some new form of creative awesomeness to burst out of my chest. Instead, I sit here with a contemplative nature and search for words to describe this blockade of expression I'm trying to fight.

What is the definition of Creativity?

Webster's online dictionary defines Creative as:
1: marked by the ability or power to create :given to creating2: having the quality of something created rather than imitated : imaginative

In the Dictionary of Creativity: Terms, Concepts, Theories & Findings in Creativity Research, Eugene Gorny defines Creativity as having 4 structural elements;
Most definitions of creativity found in research literature include the following structural elements:
1) novelty (originality, unexpectedness) of the creative work,

2) its value (relevance, appropriateness, significance, usefulness, effectiveness).This type of definition is accepted in the recent Handbook of Creativity edited by Robert J. Sternberg (1999), an authoritative collection summarizing contemporary creativity research. Let us give a few examples. "Creativity is the ability to produce work that is both novel (i.e. original, unexpected) and appropriate (i.e. useful, adaptive concerning task constraints)" (Sternberg and Lubart, 1999:

3). "Like most definitions of creativity, ours involves novelty and value: The creative product must be new and must be given value according to some external criteria" (Gruber and Wallace, 1999: 94). "A creative idea is one that is both original and appropriate for the situation in which it occurs" (Martindale 1999: 137). "Creativity from the Western perspective can be defined as the ability to produce work that is novel and appropriate" (Lubart, 1999: 339). Another two elements often found in definitions of creativity are 3) assessment of something or someone as being creative by an authoritative body (field) according to some criteria and

4) communicativeness, i.e. communication of this value to an audience.

Just in reading these definitions of creativity, I see something I'm missing. I'm looking for something that can apply to every moment, every feeling, every political cause, every situation that breaks hearts, everything.

I'll be the first to say I'm not big enough. I don't know about you, but I love to think that there's something out there that connects to some inner creative part of my soul. That something can express what I never could with words. It happens to me a lot, I see and feel moments where I want to express something that's far bigger than who I am. There's a greater longing within me, to be part of something bigger.

Its highly possible I'm not making much sense to you, but I believe if you're looking to express something more with your life, then you know what I mean. Connecting with God in a creative way is the Only way we will ever fully satisfy our hunger. We were made to worship Him. We were made in His image, the Imago Dei is built into every cell of our human body.

Imagine connecting with God in such a way that the words we sing, the brush strokes we paint, and the words we speak not only have originality and significance, but we are deemed valuable and worthy of communicating this expression to a greater audience. We can do this, further, He wants us to share our hearts with the world.

Don't fear failure, embrace the opportunity to reach more. Disregard that mist of confusion, it will only tell you you're not worth it and you have nothing to give. Trust in the God who's the Author of Creativity and let him teach you how to make your unique sound for the world to hear.

Ken JansenCrossroads Nework
Worship Director /Freeport Campus Worship Leader


God loves you,

Debbie

The powerful force of love

Have you ever been touched or changed by the powerful force of love?

If you have, you will crave that force on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most of us are creatures of habit and work driven individuals that rarely take time to look at what love is doing in our lives. I've spent the last five days contemplating the accomplishments of one tiny spark of love.

Our family pet, Sammy - a bichon was a huge part of our family. No one really talked about his contribution to the family we just knew we loved him. My dad wrote a blog about Sammy in November of 2008 http://pastor-ken.blogspot.com/2008/11/god-of-all-comfort.html

Last Wednesday Sammy had an accident and although he survived, on Friday we had to put him to sleep. In an instant the entire family was forced to look at the great contribution Sammy made to our lives. He was a smart dog, but that paled in comparison to his psychology license.

My daughter was recovering from a painful divorce and since her ex wouldn't allow dogs, she decided to purchase a dog. She wanted a different breed and color than other pets we had owned. When puppies were displayed, the breeds and color she wanted seemed to walk away from her. One little white ball of fur jumped, played and cuddled with her as if he were a long lost friend. Amie continued to shop around for a month, but that little face kept her coming back to see if he was still around. It was a miracle that he wasn't purchased and stayed around for so long. Finally, Amie's heart melted and she brought him home. Sammy was a constant companion for Amie and was a huge part of helping her heal. "I was hurting so badly. I don't know what I would have done without Sammy. His love gave me hope."

Jamie returned from California and stayed in our basement for a while. His trip was a huge success but in the process he was exhausted from overwork, disappointment and crushing blows. After Amie left for work, Sammy would go to the basement door and scratch to go down and see Jamie. Jamie admits that for hours they would cuddle on the couch as he poured his heart out. Tears splashed down his 6'3 frame as he recalled the love that Sammy gave.

When Amie moved to Florida and lived with three other teachers, she couldn't take Sammy. Ron took over and they became buddies. Sammy would beg for food by sitting on his back legs and putting his front paws together like he was praying. The paws would move up and down as if he were flagging for attention. The closer the food came to his mouth, the faster he pumped his paws. Ron shared cereal, toast and once in a while a glob of peanut butter. Sammy rode in the vet, on the motorcycle and watched from the porch when Ron mowed the grass.

When Ron broke his foot and was stationary for two months, Sammy never left his side. Sammy always met Ron at the door when he came home from work. When Ron was struggling with the changes at work Sammy provided love, attention and much needed stress relief. "He is my buddy and one of the best friends I've ever had."

I loved Sammy but I wasn't sure I was all that affected. I fed him and made sure he was groomed. I let him out and cleaned up when he made a mess. It wasn't until we knew he was dying that my heart literally broke in two. I started paying attention to all the things we did together. The way he would sit with me when I ate breakfast alone. The way he looked at me when I was crying. The way he curled up on the floor and patiently waited for me to finish something I was writing before I let him out. The way he would lay his head on my shoulder when he was sick or hurting. And, the way he protected me and barked at strangers when Ron wasn't home. Suddenly the house was much too quiet. I missed his presence and the clinking of dog tags when he walked.

Isn't that the horrible truth about love? You never really know how much it means to you until it's no longer around. Sammy changed our lives with the powerful force of love.

But....the power of love is that it moves without being seen or felt. It's more like a stealth than a helicopter. The most powerful love in the world can blow in on a whisper and be gone before you even realize what's happened.

Jesus dying on the cross was a massive image that none of us will forget. But think about the real power of his love. It doesn't strike like lightening. His love circles around us and brings comfort and warmth like a summer breeze. His love tickles our senses and sends refreshing fresh air into our lungs. He tweaks our brains ever so slightly just so we can catch a glimpse of his will.

To really appreciate the powerful force of love I think we need to shut up, be quiet and listen. Stop today and take a look around you at the people that inhabit your life. Watch their eyes and listen to the soft sounds of love. You just might find a new reason to smile.

God loves you,

Debbie

Darlene's Daily

I have a wonderful friend in Iowa. Darlene is in her late 80's and has been using a computer for as long as I can remember. After her husband died she decided to be consumed with living rather than just waiting to join him on the other side.

Her daily schedule makes me tired just reading it. She is on the board of several committees and non-profits. On the week-ends she plays the organ or piano for over 11 services at churches, the VA hospital and nursing homes. She keeps her own house, has a garden, plenty of friends and.....being an old farm girl....she gets up every morning at 4am. By 5am she has searched the Internet for fun stuff to send to her friends. I've received her daily e-mails for over 8 years. They have brought me hope, giggles and cleansing tears.

She loves blonde jokes and since many of our family members have blonde hair - we enjoy them as much as she does. I tease her that her roots are blonde.

I've decided to post some of her e-mails here. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Darlene's Daily

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Happiness is the place between too little and too much.
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A blonde was weed-eating her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat which was hiding in the grass. She rushed her cat, along with the tail, over to WAL-MART! Why WAL-MART??

HELLOOOOOOOOO! WALMART is the largest re-tailer in the world!!!

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Praise does wonders for a child's learning.
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A dog is truly a man's best friend. If you don't believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, which one is really happy to see you?

*"`*"`*"`*"`*"`*"`
Getting the facts is only half the job.
The other half is to use them wisely.
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The teacher said, "Now class, we know there are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year, so who can tell me how many seconds are there in a year?"

All the kids looked baffled by the question except Rufus, who raises his hand and waves it excitedly."

Yes, Rufus, how many seconds are there in a year?" the teacher asked.

Replied Rufus, "Twelve, m'am. January second, February second, March second..."


64º In Knoxville, Iowa
Have a great Monday
~D~

Thanks Darlene,

God loves you,

Debbie